The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-06-16
In Convention at Mankato they Authorize Com.
mittee to Prosecute Railroads for Proven Vic.
lAti0ns 0fthe Law.
The Resolutions Demand the Absolute and Inn
sartial enforcement Of the Interstate Com.
merce Act.

with continued structures OF st. Paul and
Minneapolis as to their standing on the
interstate law to the rest OF the state. Al
most every point made was also receiv-
ed With applause. He was ans wered
by W. B. Dean OF ST. Paul. The dis
chssion OF the evening was practically |
debate between Mr.. Dean for st. Paul ana
the delegates from the interior towns.
Congressman Lind asked Mr.. Dean IL he |
and the ST. Paul business men would help
prople here to receive the same rate per
ton per mile from Duluth and st. Paul
now gets. Mr.. Dean said that they would, |
but that the railroad commissioners were |
empowe red to DO that.
The railroad commissioners declined to !
take part in the discussion. They were |
there only as spectators and to gain
knowledge They did not consider it pru
dent to act hastily on the intricate ques-
tions before them.
Mr. Childs OF Waseca introduced a reso-
luton empowering the executive committee
OF the association to investigate all viola
tions OF the railroad law, and when they
were proven so to employ counsel and
bring suit in the courts against the roads
offending.
Mr.. Child's resolution was adopted unani-
mously, and the executive committee
invested with authority to commence suits
at the proper time which is lett to their
discretion. Senator Pope said that he did
not think that the executive committee
intended to bripg any immediate suits,
but that the action OF the convention had
solely been to empower them to do so when
necessary.
FORMAL DECLARATIONS.
The resolutions of the association were
presented by Senator Bowen as follows:
Whereas, The system Of transportation
heretofore practiced by common carriers
hos
ing a few localities with low rates OF trans
portation and imposing proportionate
high rate upon other localities; and, where
as such Il system is destructive OF that
general distribution of wealt tn and prosper
ity which should characterize common.
wealth founded on the equal rights and
privileges of free peoples and whereas all
common carriers should be bound to re-
spect the rights OF the public without dis
tinction OF persons or localities, therefore
Resolved, That we, the Business Mems
Association OF Minnesota demand radi-
cal reform in the system OF railroad trans
portation heretofore practiced. We declare
that the only natural and proper system
is a system which knows no favorltlsm
and grants no special privileges to any
persons or localities. That rates OF trans
portation should be based pro rata upon
distance and amount OF property trans
ported and without reference whatever to
terminal points CT jobbing centers. No To-
cality should be recognized by special
transportation rates as the commercial
property OF any jobbing or manufacturing
center.
Resolved, That we are In favor OF an
absolute enforcement of the interstate
commerce law and the state law regulating
common carriers, and that we are EN-.
phatically opposed to any suspension OF
the section generally known as the long
and short haul clause.
Resolved, That we respectfully call the
attention OF the railway warehouse COM
mission OF this state to the freedom of
traffic" law, and ask that said commission
in reviewing the schedule OF rates adjusted
and published by the several lines OF roads
which connect with other lines leading to
Duluth, see to it that such lines OF road
comply with said law, and that no unrea-
sonable or unjust transfer charges be al
lowed, to the end that the people OF Mime
sofa be not defrauded of their rights. or
excluded from the markets Of Lake Superb
or by just arrangements between con.
Meeting lines OF road.
Resolved, That LakeSuperior, to the north
and east OF u.s. and the Mississippi river, lead
ingsouth, arenatures great highways, and
that any law or discrimination. or suspen.
sion OF law, or any combination OF capital
lists. localities or politicians, which shall
attempt to deprive the inland towns and
cities OF our state OF untrampeled access to
these waterways, upon reasonable terms
and without unjust discrimination, will
meet with severe condemnation at our
hands.
Resolved, That the proper basis Tor nix
ing charges for the transportation OF per-
sons and property over the railroads OF the
country should be such an income as will
pay, above operating expenses. reason.
able interest on the actual cost OF the road
and its rolling stock; and that whenever
the income OF any road shall amount to
more than this, there should be a reduction
of rates for such transportation; and that
all charges for the production ofdividends.
or for paying interest on "watered stock, -
or for influencing legislation, amount to
extortion. When railroads impose upon
the toiling masses and business interests
of the country a burden OF taxation
amounting to millions OF dollars for the
purpose OF paying dividends on fictitious
capital, they become the masters and not
the servants OF the people, and such an
evil and exercise of unwarranted power
should not be allowed to exist an instant
longer than is necessary for it's prompt
abolition. We call upon the railroad
commissioners to assist in the investiga.
ton OF this matter so that reliable es
innate may be established OF the actual
capital invested in the railroads OF the
country.
Resolved, That we recognize st. Paul and
Minneapolis and Duluth as points at which,
with lust and reasonable priv ileges, the
business interests OF this almost limitless
empire will naturally center, and Duluth
as the port at which land transportation
should cease OF all commodities seeking
transportation over the ways OF the world
that the establishment OF rates OF freight
by railroad companies 80 exhorbitant az
to prohibit transportation over natural
channels to these localities and compelling
them to seek an outlet hundreds OF miles
away at distant lake port is
a crime against the people, and we demand
az a right rigid enforcement by the
properly constituted authorities OF alllaws
in the interest of the people to the end
that all unequal and unreasonable burdens
upon the products OF labor and capital
relations shall be prevented and the whole
people be thus enabled to enjoy all the
rights and privileges to which their natural
positions 30 Justly entide them.
Resolved, That anything less than the
full and unequivocal concession OF these
Just demands OF our rights would be 9
trayesty upon justice, and that those who
perpetrate these wrongs and those who
having the power to prevent them
shall suffer such wrongs to exist. are
alike deserving OF our unqualified condem
nation; and to the overthrow oil these
wrongs, which are impoverishing our peo-
pie, depopulating our rural districts and
driving our manufacturing and other bust
ness enterprises to distant and unnatural
great business centers-if suffered longer &c
exist-we pledged our most determined
opposition, and our persistent and un
eeasing labors.
Resolved, That while terminal railroads
and union depots are OF undoubted bene
fit, they should be owned only by the
stockholders OF the different railroadt
using them. and not by RIM
composed OF the managers thereof, who
can vote to themselves large percentag.
of the increase OF the said railroad as
rental therefor, because when thus ownee
they are as much Of q parasite as q fas
freight line.
ADDRESS TO THE STATE COMMISSION.
John r. Parshall presented the address
OF the association to the state railroad
commission. 1t reads as follows: